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A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO PINK FLOYD SOLO ALBUMS
A short (and possibly subjective) look at solo release by (former) Pink Floyd members, in order to separate the chaff from the wheat. Availability refers to a new release currently available at the best price we can offer. When a certain album is not available at this moment, you can search our catalog for a deleted release we might have in stock.
* A Piece For Assorted Lunatics??
** Any Colour You Like?
*** Raving And Drooling
**** You Gotta Be Crazy!
***** The Amazing Pudding!!
SYD BARRETT
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The Madcap Laughs (1970) ****
Produced by Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Harvest label boss Malcolm Jones. Without doubt Barrett's finest solo album in Piper At The Gates Of Dawn style but less electric. Includes his only solo single Octopus.
Availability: CD (with bonus tracks) LP (virgin vinyl edition)
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Barrett (1970) ***
Second and final solo album that was released in the same year. Less coherent than The Madcap Laughs but again with excellent sketchy songs. Produced by David Gilmour alone, who played a song from the album, Dominoes, on his recent solo concerts.
Availability: CD (with bonus tracks) LP (virgin vinyl edition)
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Opel (1988) ***
An excellent collection of demos, alternate takes and unreleased songs from the sessions for The Madcap Laughs and Barrett. Includes the beautiful title track which for some strange reason was not included on any of the 1970 albums.
Availability: CD (with bonus tracks) LP (virgin vinyl edition with bonus tracks)
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Wouldn't You Miss Me (2001) ***
An excellent introduction to Syd Barrett's solo oeuvre with tracks The Madcap Laughs, Barrett and Opel. Also includes the previously unreleased Bob Dylan Blues, which was found in David Gilmour's archive.
Availability: CD
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The Radio 1 Sessions (2004) ****
8-track compilation of the 1970 Top Gear Session (featuring David Gilmour and Jerry Shirley) and the previously unavailable 1971 Bob Harris Session. A welcome addition the the Barrett catalogue since it's the only officially available live material.
Availability: CD
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also available ...
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Crazy Diamond (1993) ****
The definitive Syd Barrett collection with containing the albums The Madcap Laughs, Barrett and Opel, including their added bonustracks, and a superb booklet, housed in a deluxe long box. Almost 60 tracks in total.
Availability: 3CD
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DAVID GILMOUR
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David Gilmour (1978) ***
Guitar orientated and laidback album recorded with the help of pre-Pink Floyd band mates Rick Wills and Willie Wilson. Recorded while Pink Floyd took a three years rest at the end of ther seventies. Well recommended.
Availability: CD LP
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About Face (1984) ***
About Face is David Gilmour trying to establish himself as a solo artist. The result is a much more powerful and produced album than his first one. Lyrically a strong album and much more mature than on later Floyd albums.
Availability: CD
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NICK MASON
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Fictitious Sports (1981) *
The collaboration between Carla Bley and Nick Mason resulted in a Nick Mason 'solo album' but is in fact much more of a Bley influenced jazz album. Fine within its field but not what you'd expect as a Pink Floyd fan.
Availability: CD (deleted u.s. edition)
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Profiles (1985) **
Collaboration with ex-10CC guitar player Rick Fenn, with whom Mason recorded a lot of music for soundtracks and other media. Profiles is more accessible than Fictitious Sports and even includes a single, Lie For A Lie, with vocal by David Gilmour.
Availability: CD
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ROGER WATERS
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Music From The Body (1970) *
Collaboration between Roger Waters and Ron Geesin, that acted as a soundtrack to The Body. More in the avantgardistic style of Ron Geesin but with some very distinctive mellow Waters tunes such as Breathe and Sea Shell And Stone.
Availability: CD
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The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking (1984) ***
Originally written at the time The Wall was conceived, the band opted for the latter, making this one the first of his post-Floyd solo albums. A bit too much of the same after The Wall and The Final Cut, despite the help from Eric Clapton.
Availability: CD LP
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When The Wind Blows (1986) ***
Highly underrated soundtrack album which is almost a Roger Waters album with 10 new tracks. Other tracks include David Bowie and Genesis. The movie itself is a animation film by Raymond Briggs' graphic novel.
Availability: CD
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Radio KAOS (1987) ***
With Radio KAOS Roger Waters' took a bow for modern electronic equipment. The result is a fresh sounding record which is less guitar orientated and even has a spark of optimism. Includes The Tide Is Turning.
Availability: CD LP
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The Wall Live In Berlin (1990) **
Fundraising album for The National Fund For Disaster Relief. Recorded in Berlin, July 1990 with a string of guests such as Marianna Faithfull, Bryan Adams, The Band, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor and many others.
Availability: 2CD (super audio)
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Amused To Death (1992) *****
Without doubt the best Roger Waters album ever, and amoung the best ever release under the Pink Floyd flag. Much more coherent than anything Waters recorded since 1977's Animals. Great guitar work from Jeff Beck and an amazing production in Q Sound.
Availability: CD
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In The Flesh (2000) ***
The first ever Roger Waters official live album recorded during the 2000 leg of the In The Flesh tour. Nice versions but at times too much of a Pink Floyd album, neglecting much of Waters' solo songs. Highlights are the songs from Amused To Death.
Availability: 2CD
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Flickering Flame (2002) ***
Compilation album to promote the 2002 world tour. A nice introduction to Roger Waters' solo work but it might be better to buy the three core albums Pros And Cons, Radio KAOS, and Amused to Death directly. Flickering Flame contains two previously unavailable tracks.
Availability: CD
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RICK WRIGHT
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Wet Dream (1978) **
Laidback solo album, released around the time David Gilmour released his, Roger Waters wrote The Wall and Nick Mason was involved with Carla Bley. Sometimes a bit uninspired which may be caused by Rick Wright's voice. Features Snowy White on guitar.
Availability: -
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Identity (1984) *
Result of a shortlived partnership with Dave Harris, called Zee. The album is much inspired by the former band of Harris, Fashion, and is well under the unfluence of the Fairlight synthesizer. The only Pink Floyd solo album never released on CD anywhere.
Availability: -
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Broken China (1996) ****
A highly underrated concept (!) album by Rick Wright about depression of a friend. Very tastful arrangements, excellent flow and nice vocal contributions from Sinead O'Connor. Possibly the most inventive album by any Pink Floyd member since the '80s .
Availability: CD
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